Apparatus for forming and processing textile fibers and filamentary materials



y 12, 1955 F. c. SKALKO ETAL 3,

APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND PROCESSING TEXTILE FIBERS AND FILAMENTARY MATERIALS Original Filed April 6. 1960 INVENTORS FRANCIS 62 5mm 6 Jo/m J Own/s ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,259,939 APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND PROCESS- ING TEXTILE FIBERS AND FILAMENTARY MATERIALS Francis C. Skalko, Pawtucket, KL, and John J. 0wens, Greenville, SC, assignors to Owens-Corning Flberglas Corporation, a corporation 'of Delaware Original application Apr. 6, 1960, Ser. No. 20,419, new Patent No. 3,144,687. Divided and this application June 1, 1964, Ser. No. 371,683

8 Claims. (Cl. 18--8) This application is a division of our copending application Serial No. 20,419 filed April 6, 1960, and now Patent No. 3,144,687.

This invention relates to the formation and processing of textile fibers and filamentary materials and more especially a method of blending staple fiber with a linear fibrous body or strand of filaments for producing a composite textile strand or yarn.

Textile fibers or filaments have been formed by attenuating streams of heat-softened materials such as glass, filament forming resins or the like at high linear speeds to form fine fibers or filaments which are gathered into strand formation and collected by winding same into a package preparatory to further processing the strand or filamentary material to yarns or other linear form. It has been found that a linear body or strand of glass fibers for certain textile purposes may be enhanced with advantageous characteristics of other fibrous materials by combining the body or strand with staple fiber.

An object of the invention resides in apparatus for advancing a linear bundle of filaments, temporarily dispersing the filaments into open pattern formation and commingling or combining fiber or a fibrous body with the dispersed filaments and compacting the commingled filaments and fibers or fibrous body to produce a composite yarn-like structure.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a thread-like body formed of filaments attenuated from heatsoftenable materials commingled and compacted with fibers of different materials to form a linear yarn-like body or product endowed with characteristics of both materials and improving dimensional stability as well as the afiinity of the product for dyes.

Another object of the invention resides in an apparatus or structural arrangement comprising means arranged to attenuate heat-softenable material to form fibers or filaments, and embodying means for commingling the fibers or filaments with fibers or a fibrous body of different material and compacting the commingled materials to form a composite linear body wound upon a collector in package form.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus embodying a means effective to open a linear multifilament body in combination with means for delivering staple fiber or a fibrous body into the open pattern of filaments whereby to orient the commingled materials into a composite strand or yarn-like body.

Further objects and advantages are Within the scope of this invention such as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction and to combinations of parts, elements per se, and to economies of manufacture and numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration of the specification and drawing of a form of the invention, which may be preferred, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a semidiagrammatic view illustrating one form of apparatus for carrying out the method of the invention to produce the novel product;

FIGURE 2 is a semidiagrarnmatic view of a modified form of apparatus for carrying out the method of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing another method of commingling filamentary and fibrous materials, and

FIGURE 4 is a semidiagrammatic view illustrating another form of apparatus for carrying out the method of commingling or blending fibers, filaments or fibrous materials together.

The method and apparatus of the invention have particular utility in commingling or blending filaments or fibers formed of heat-softenable materials, such as glass or fiber-forming resins, with filaments, fibers or linear fibrous bodies formed of other materials, such as asbestos, ceramic fibers, fibers of nylon, vinyl copolymers, acetate, cotton, wool, sisal, or other fibers of natural or synthetic materials, the commingled materials being compacted or oriented into a composite linear yarn-like body or novel product having improved strength characteristics and readily adaptable for decorative motif derived through particular characteristics of filaments or fibers of the different materials, the composite linear yarn-like body being suitable for fabricating textiles and the like.

In one phase of the method, a linear body of filaments is acted upon to disperse or separate the filaments in an open pattern or network and staple fiber introduced into the zone of separated filament whereby the filaments and staple fiber are combined or commingled to form a composite filamentary structure.

Another phase of the method relates to the introduction of a thread-like linear fibrous body into the zone of separation of the filaments and orienting or blending the filaments and fibrous body into a composite filamentary structure or product. The method embraces the blending or commingling of newly formed fibers or filaments of heat-softened material with a linear fibrous body adjacent the region of formation of the fibers or filaments and compacting the commingled materials into a composite linear product.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1, the filamentary constituent or component is formed of continuous filaments attenuated from heat-softened material, such as glass or filament forming resin. As illustrated in FIGURE 1, a forehearth or feeder 10 is adapted to contain or be supplied with heat-softened glass or other heat-softened material, the lower wall 12 or floor of the feeder or forehearth being formed with a plurality of depending projections or tips 14, each fashioned with an orifice.

Streams 16 of the heat-softened material fiow through the orifices. The streams 16 are attenuated at a comparatively high linear speed to form comparatively fine continuous filaments 18. In the arrangement illustrated in FIGURE 1, the filaments 18 are converged into a multifilament strand or linear group 20 under the influence of a guide or filament gathering surface 22, the strand being directed through the nip region of a pair of pull rolls 24 mounted upon arbors 25 which are rotated at identical speeds by suitable power transmission and a motor (not shown) to advance the strand 20.

By advancing the strand 20 at high speed, the streams 16 are attenuated to the filaments comprising the strand. Means is provided to effect a separation of the filaments of the strand or opening of the strand so that the filaments are temporarily dispersed in an open pattern or open network. Disposed beneath and in the path of the advancing strand 20 is a deflecting surface 27 of a plate or member 28 arranged at an angle with respect to the path of movement of the strand.

The strand impinging on the deflecting surface 27 is projected therefrom in a different direction dependent upon the relative angularity of the deflecting surface of member 28 with respect to the path of incidence of the strand 20.

The eflect of the impingement of the multifilament strand against the deflector 28 is to disperse or separate the filaments into an open pattern at the region 29. The arrangement illustrated in FIGURE 1 includes means for feeding staple fiber into the region 29 of the open pattern of continuous filaments adjacent the deflecting means or plate 28 to commingle or blend the staple fiber Withthe continuous filaments. The filaments and staple fiber are advanced through a compactor or condenser 30 which compacts or orients the materials into a composite linear body, product or filamentary structure 32 which is wound upon a sleeve or collector 34 to form a wound package 36.

In the embodiment illustrated, a shaft or arbor 38 is supported by arms 40 pivotally joined with supports 41 and mounted by a housing 42. The housing 42 contains means for driving or rotating the sleeve 34 and in the embodiment illustrated includes a driven roll 44 rotated by a suitable motor (not shown), the roller contacting the periphery of the package for rotating the sleeve and package at the desired speed to accumulate or collect the composite linear product 32.

The linear body or filamentary structure 32 is traversed lengthwise of the sleeve 34 to form an elongated package by means of a conventional strand traverse 46 which is reciprocated to effect distribution of the product as the package is formed. 7

The condenser or compactor 30 is of a tubular configuration and serves to fold in the staple fibers and compact the commingled fibers and filaments of the strand. The compactor 30 may be provided with an angularly disposed tube 48 adapted to beconnected with a source of compressed air whereby to direct a jet of air into the compactor 30 to assist in folding or integrating the staple fibers into the multifilament strand as the filaments are progressively converged during movement through the compactor 30. Y

A form of means or system for delivering staple fiber for blending or commingling with the multifilament strand is illustrated at 50. The staple fiber feed arrangement includes a hopper or other receptacle 52 adapted to contain staple fiber 54 or other fibrous material to be blended or integrated with the multifilament strand 20. The hopper is fashioned with a chamber 56 in which is rotatably mounted a fiber feeding means or wheel 58 provided with a plurality of radially arranged blades or vanes 60 mounted upon a shaft 62 driven by a motor 64 through the medium of pulleys and a driving belt 66.

The motor 64 is of the variable speed type for controlling the rate of feed of the staple fiber by controlling the speed of rotation of the feed wheel 58. It is to be understood that other forms of variable speed drive for the fiber feed may be employed for the purpose. The arrangement illustrated includes means for processing the staple fibers to disperse them in discrete form and to continuously deliver the staple fibers into the open pattern of the filaments of the strand at the region 29 adjacent the deflecting surface 28 for commingling, combining or blending the staple fiber with the continuous filaments.

The apparatus includes a generally circular cylindrically-shaped housing 70 providing a chamber 71 having closed ends, the latter having been omitted from FIGURE 1 for purposes of illustration. A channel, chute or passage 72 is in communication with the fiber feeding chamber 56 and is in communication with the fiber conditioning chamber 71 in a generally tangential position for conveying staple fiber from the feed chamber 56 into the cylindrical chamber 71.

The channel 72 above the region of delivery of staple fiber from the feeding means is open to the atmosphere as shown at 74 to admit atmospheric air with the staple fiber moving through the passage 72. The feed chute or passage 72 conveys the staple fiber into the chamber 71 at a controlled rate. The lower wall region of the housing 70 is formed with a plurality of openings 76 through which fibers are delivered into the region 29 of the open 4 1 strand forwardly of the zone of impingementof the strand 20 against the deflector surface 27. of the plate 28.

The openings 76 may be in the form of slots arranged in spaced apart relation or in the form of discrete openings simulating a screen or a foraminous area. The'openings 76 may be formed in a separable plate in lieu of the wall region of the housing 70 to facilitate changing plates to provide ditferent patterns of orifices or openings for mosteflicient delivery of the discrete staple fibers dependent upon the types or lengths of fibers to be blended or commingled with the filaments of the opened strand.

In the arrangement illustrated in FIGURE 1, it is desirable to establish turbulent movement of .the staple fiber in the conditioning chamber 71 in order to break up clumps or tufts of fibers so that substantially discrete fibers are projected through the openings .76. The discrete fibers in the chamber 71 are entrained in a tangential air stream arranged so that the fibers in the air stream are properly directed through the openings 76 for blending.

with the pattern of open filaments.

' The housing 70 is equipped with an air nozzle 80 tangentially arranged with respect to the circular wall of the chamber, the direction of the air stream projected from'the nozzle 80 is in general alignment with the openings 76. In order to set up effective turbulence in the chamber 71 to separate pellets, clumps or tufts of fibers into dispersed discrete fibers, it is desirable to introduce one or more air blasts or jets in generally radial directions in the chamber 71 to accomplish this purpose.

As shown in FIGURE 1, a nozzle 82 is disposed to direct an air stream generally radially into the chamber 71 to establish turbulence of the staple fiber in the chamber. Several of such nozzles may be spaced peripherally of the housing 70 for directing air streams radially into the chamber. The nozzles 80 and 82 are connected with a suitable source of compressed air. The deflector plate 28 is supported by trough-like member 84, theside walls 85 thereof extending upwardly so as to confine thestaple fiber and dispersed filaments in a blending zone. 7

The blended or composite assemblage 32 of filaments of the strand 20 and staple fiber 54 is advanced into the compactor 30 by the winding of the composite linear body of filaments and staple fiber 32 onto the sleeve or tube 34. The air jet introduced into the compactor 30 through the tube 48 and the funnel or converging configuration of the compactor 30 function to progressively fold in and integrate the staple fibers delivered into the zone 29 with the filaments of the strand 20 to form the composite linear body 32.

The staple fiber 54 is of a different material than that of the attenuated fibers or filaments 18 to impart to the composite linear body 32 the advantageous characteristics of different materials. For example, a linear body 32 re- I sembling a bulk yarn may be formed by proportioning the amount of staple fiber integrated with the continuous filaments or fibers.

A comparatively small amount of staple fiber may be blended with the fibers or filaments 18 to merely provide a roughened surface for the body 32 where a roughened surface is desired in the fabrication of textiles. The use of the method and apparatus of the invention enables the production of a composite filamentary body having the desirable strength characteristics of continuous filaments and a surface motif simulating that of staple yarn.

In the operation of the arrangement shown in FIG- URE 1, streams 16 of heat-softened material such as glass flowing from orificed projections 14 of the feeder 10 are attenuated into continuous filaments 18 by rotation of the pull wheels or rotatable members 24, and the filaments 18 gathered or converged by a guide 22 into a strand 20. The filaments may be attenuated at linear speeds of several thousand feet per minute.

The strand 20 of filaments from the pull wheels 24 is projected or impinged against the angularly disposed de fleeting plate 28, the force of impfngement deflecting the filaments away from the surface 27 of the plate, simultaneously dispersing or opening up the filaments of the strand into an open pattern or network. Concomitantly with the formation of the filaments of the strand, the fiber feeding member 60 is rotated by the motor 64 to feed staple fiber of different material through the chute or passage into the chamber 71.

Compressed air is ejected into the chamber 71 through the nozzles 80 and 82, the staple fiber being tumbled and agitated by the radially directed air blast from the nozzle 82 to separate pellets, tufts or clumps of fibers preparatory to their being entrained in an air blast or stream from the nozzle 80 and projected through the orifices 76 into contact with the dispersed or separated filaments in open pattern formation at the region 29 adjacent the deflector surface 27. The filaments and staple fiber are drawn through the compactor 30 by winding the linear body 32 formed therefrom into a cylindrical package 36 on the rotating sleeve 34.

The driving means 44 for the material collecting tube or sleeve 34 rotates the tube at a speed to accommodate the linear material 32 at substantially the same linear speed as the attenuation of the filaments 18 under the influence of the pull rolls 24. The rate of feed or delivery of the staple fiber into the open network or pattern of filaments may be regulated by varying the speed of the staple fiber feeding means.

FIGURE 2 illustrates an apparatus for blending together or combining a linear fibrous body with a strand of newly formed filaments of a material other than that of the fibrous body to form a composite linear body. In this form, heat-softened glass or resin contained in a receptacle or feeder flows through orificed tips 14 as streams 16' which are attenuated to filaments 18' under the influence of rotatable members or pull rolls 24', the filaments being converged by a guide eye or gathering means 22' into strand formation prior to engagement of the strand by the rotatable members 24' at the nip region thereof.

The filaments are attenuated at comparatively high speeds of several thousand linear feet per minute. The advancing strand 20 is continuously impinged against a deflector plate or surface 28' supported by a trough-like member 84'. Concomitantly with the formation of the filaments, a filamentary or fibrous yarn or linear body 90 is advanced from a package or supply 92 thereof into the open pattern or opened region of the strand of filaments at the region 29' resulting from impingement of the strand against the deflector plate. The material 92 is preferably in package formation carried by a spool 93 supported by suitable means (not shown).

The arrangement of FIGURE 2 includes a means 96 for advancing the linear body or yarn from the package 92. In the embodiment illustrated, the advancing means is in the form of a tubular member 98 having a side branch tube or passage 100 through which compressed air is introduced into contact with the yarn or body 90 at a proper angle to advance the body 90 through the tube 98.

The arrangement illustrated at 96 is referred to as an air lance and is of conventional construction, and the rate of feed of the material maybe controlled by regulating velocity of air delivered through the tube 98.

The linear body or yarn 90 is blended and combined with the spaced filaments at the region 29 and the assemblage of strand 20 of filaments and linear body or yarn 90 advanced through a compactor which is of the type illustrated in FIGURE 1 wherein compressed air is introduced into a side branch tub-e 48', the air assisting in compacting the materials into a composite linear body 102. The linear body 102 passes through a traverse member 46 and is wound upon a tubular sleeve or tube 104 to form a wound package 106. The sleeve and package are rotated by a driving means 44 contained Within a housing 42'.

. Through the arrangement shown in FIGURE 2, the yarn or linear body 90 formed of fibers of materials other than the material of the filaments or fibers 18' are blended together at the region 29' of opening of the strand 20 to form a composite linear body of fibrous or filamentary materials wherein the composite body is endowed with the individual or particular characteristics of the fibers and filaments making up the composite body.

The arrangement illustrated in FIGURE 3 is especially adapted for combining a strand of continuous filaments formed of heat-softenable material, such as glass, with a fibrous linear body, the latter providing a core for the filaments.

The heat-softened material in the feeder or supply receptacle 10" flows through orificed tips 14" forming streams 16 which are attenuated to filaments 18". As in the other forms of apparatus, the filaments are converged into a strand 20" by a gathering means 22" and are engaged by rotatable members 24" at the nip region, the members rotating at a speed to attenuate the streams to fine filaments.

The strand 20" is impinged upon a deflecting surface of plate 28" to open up, separate and disperse the filaments of the strand in an open pattern at the region 29". The plate 28 is supported by a trough-like member 84". In this form, the plate 28" is provided with an opening through which is advanced a fibrous or filamentary body or yarn 112 from a supply roll 114 carried by a suitable support (not shown). The yarn or linear body 112 moves through the nip region between a pair of rolls 116 which operate as friction or drag means upon the body 112 to maintain the same in tension as the body moves through the opening 110 in the plate 28".

The filaments of the strand 20 are separated or opened up by the force of impinging the strand against the deflector plate 28". The linear body or yarn 112, formed of fibers of different material than the material of the filaments 18", is advanced through the opening 110 in the plate 28" into contact with the dispersed filaments at the region 29".

The filaments 20" and the yarn or linear body 112 are advanced through the compactor 30" to form a composite linear body 118 which is wound upon a tube 120 into a package 122 as in the other forms of apparatus hereinbefore described. The linear body or yarn 112 may be formed of continuous filaments or staple fiber.

FIGURE 4 is a semidiagrammatic view of an apparatus for combining or blending newly attenuated fibers with fibrous or filamentary material in linear body or yarn formation. The arrangement shown in FIGURE 4 is especially adapted for forming fibers of heat-softenable low melting point organic materials, such as acrylic resin, polyamide resin, polyethylene resin, polyester resin or other fiber-forming materials. A supply of heat-softened resin or other fiber-forming material is contained in the receptacle from which streams 132 of the softened material flow onto the peripheries of rotatable members, rolls or drums 136 mounted upon shafts 137 and driven in opposite directions as indicated by the arrows by a suitable motor and transmission gearing (not shown).

In this form of the invention, a yarn or linear body 138 formed of glass fibers or filaments or other fibers is advanced through the nip region of the rotatable members or drums 136. A supply spool 140 of the yarn or linear material is maintained in a position whereby the material or yarn 138 may be withdrawn and passed around a guide '142 and downwardly between the rotating drums 136.

The streams 132 of the heat-softened material provide films 144 of the material upon adjacent peripheral sector regions or areas of the drums 136 for conveying the heatsoftened material through the nip region of the drums and in contact with the yarn or linear body 138. The heatsoftened fiber-forming material of the film 144 tends to adhere to the peripheral surfaces of the drums as the 7 drum surfaces move in divergent directions below the nip region thereof.

The adhesion of the fiber-forming material to the drum surfaces results in drawing or attenuating the material into fibers as the viscosity of the material effects a separation of portionsof the film into discrete bodies 148, the end regions of which remain adhered to the drums. As the surfaces of the drums diverge during rotation the discrete bodies 148 are attenuated into fibers 150 which adhere to the yarn or linear body 138 and move downwardly with the yarn.

When the attenuated fibers or filaments 150 become fine through attenuation, the ends of the fibers or filaments in contact with the peripheries of the drums are pulled therefrom and the fibers or filaments carried along I or advanced with the yarn 138. The assemblage of yarn and fibers move into and through a compactor 30a whereby the fibers are compacted along the surface of the yarn or linear body 138 to forma composite linear body or structure 152.

The composite linear body is Wound upon a sleeve or tube 154 rotated by suitable means into a package in the same manner as described in reference to the other forms of apparatus. The heat-softened material 132,.being a comparatively low melting resin, is maintained in a viscous condition by the application of heat to the peripheral surface areas of the rotatable members or drums 136.

As illustrated in FIGURE 4, banks of infra-red lamps 158 may be employed to heat the surfaces of the drums 136. It is to be understood that hot blasts from internal combustion burners or flames from burning gases may be directed into contact with the surfaces of the drums 136 to maintain the proper viscosity of the fiber-forming material for most efiicient attenuation.

Through the arrangement shown in FIGURE 4, a bulky yarn may be fashioned by adhering newly formed fibers or filaments to a preformed yarn or linear body also formed of fibers. The linear body or yarn 138 may be formed of fibers of glass, linear polyamide material or other materials such as acrylic, polyethylene and polyester resins or the like, In lieu of the advancing of the yarn or linear body 138 by winding the final product upon a rotatable sleeve 154, a pair of pull rolls such as illustrated in the other forms may be utilized for advancmg the yarn 138 and fibers adhered thereto.

By advancing the yarn 138 by means of pull rolls at a linear speed slightly greater than the peripheral speed of the drums or rotatable members 136, a secondary attenuation of the fibers adhering to the yarn 138 may be attained. The packaged material made by this method may be processed by twisting same with other fibrous or filamentary bodies for various textile uses.

In the form of apparatus shown in FIGURES 1 through 3, the heat-softened material is preferably a mineral material such as glass and the continuous filaments provide a strand endowed with high strength characteristics. The staple fiber oriented with the continuous filaments may be natural fibers such as cotton, wool or resin fibers such as fibers formed of linear polyarnides, polyesters, polyethylene, acrylics or the like. In the arrangement illustrated in FIGURE 4, fibers of the yarn or linear body 138 should preferably be formed of materials of a fusing temperature higher than that of the material from which the fibers or filaments 150 are formed in order to avoid a fusion of the fibers or filaments of the yarn 138 with the other fibers.

It is apparent that, within the scope of the invention, modifications and different arrangements may be made other than as herein disclosed, and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention comprehending all variations thereof.

We claim:

1. Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, a feeder arranged to deliver heat-softened material, rotatable means engaging continuous filaments of the heat-softened material for attenuating the material to continuous filaments, guide means converging the filaments into a linear bundle, a deflector surface, said rotatable means beng disposed to impinge the linear bundle onto the deflector surface to disperse the filaments, feeding means arranged to continuously deliver fibrous materials into the region of and in engagement with the dispersed filaments, anda compactor arranged to receive and blend together the interengaged dispersed filaments and fibrous material into a linear yam-like bundle.

2. Apparatus for producing a linear yarn-like product comprising, in combination, means for continuously advancing a linear body of filaments at a substantial linear speed in the direction of its length, means providing a;

surface disposed in the path of the moving body of filaments, said surface being angularly arranged with respect to the direction of the moving body of filaments whereby impingement of the body of filaments against the surface disperses the filaments, and means for feeding a fibrous constituent into the region of the dispersed filaments to commingle the dispersed filaments and fibrous constitutent.

3.-Apparatus for producing a linear yarn-like product comprising, in combination, means for continuously advancing a linear body of filaments at a substantial linear speed in the direction of its length, a member,

providing a surface disposedin the path of the moving body of filaments, said surface being angularly arranged with respect to the direction of'the moving body of filaments whereby impingement of the body of filaments against the surface disperses the filaments, means for feeding a fibrous constituent into the region of the dispersed filaments to interengage and commingle the dispersed filaments and fibrous constituent, and a compactor arranged to receive and blend together the dispersed filaments and fibrous constituent into a linear yam-like bundle.

4. Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination,

to deflect the dispersed fibers therefrom, feeding means for delivering fiber of difierent material into the region of and in engagement with the dispersed fibers, a compactor arranged to receive the assemblage of fibers and,

compact them into a linear body, and a collector adapted to receive the linear body.

5. Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combina. tion, a feeder arranged to deliver streams of heat-s0ftened glass therefrom, rotatable pull wheel means engaging continuous filaments formed from the streams of glass to attenuate the streams delivered from the feeder into continuous filaments, a deflector disposed in the path of movement of the attenuated filaments and adapted to effect dispersion of the filaments and to deflect the filaments therefrom, feeding means continuously delivering staple fiber of different material at a controlled rate into the region of and into engagement with the dispersed filaments, tubular means arranged to receive the assemblage of staple fiber and filaments to compact the assemblage into a linear body, and a collector adapted to receive the linear body and accumulate the body into a package.

6. Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, a feeder arranged to deliver streams of heat-softened material therefrom, rotatable pull wheel means engaging filaments of the material for attenuating the material of the streams to filaments, guide means engaging and converging the filaments into a strand, a deflector angularly arranged in the path of the strand, said rotatable means being arranged to impinge the strand against the angular deflect-or to open the strand of filaments, feeding means for directing fiber of different material into engagement with the filaments at the open region of the strand, and means gathering and integrating the filaments and fiber into a composite linear body.

7. Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, a feeder arranged to deliver streams of heat-softened material therefrom, rotatable means engaging continuous filaments of the material for attenuating the material of the streams to filaments, guide means engaging and converging the filaments into a strand, a deflector arranged in the path of the strand and angularly disposed with respect to the path of the strand, said rotatable means being arranged to impinge the strand of filaments against the angular deflector to disperse the filaments, means for continuously feeding fiber of different material from a supply into engagement with the dispersed filaments, means for integrating the filaments and fiber into a composite linear body, and means for collecting the composite linear body into a package.

8. Apparatus for producing a linear yarn-like product comprising, in combination, means for continuously advancing a linear body of filaments of glass at a substantial linear speed in the direction of its length, a member providing a surface disposed in the path of the moving body of filaments, said surface being angularly arranged with respect to the direction of the moving body of filaments whereby impingement of the body of filaments against the surface disperses the filaments, means providing a gas stream directed into the region of the dispersed filaments, and means for feeding a fibrous constituent into the gas stream to commingle the dispersed filaments and fibrous constitutent.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,302,790 11/1942 Modigliani 188 2,411,326 11/1946 McMillin et a1 19--145 X 2,736,676 2/1956 Frickert 654 X 2,795,926 6/ 1957 Drummond 28-72 3,043,087 7/ 1962 Breen et a1. 28-72 WILLIAM J. STEPHENSON, Primary Examiner.

MICHAEL v. BRINDISI, Examiner.

L. S. SQUIRES, Assistant Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS OF THE CHARACTER DISCLOSED, IN COMBINATION, A FEEDER ARRANGED TO DELIVER HEAT-SOFTENED MATERIAL, ROTATABLE MEANS ENGAGING CONTINUOUS FILAMENTS OF THE HEAT-SOFTENED MATERIAL FOR ATTENUATING THE MATERIAL TO CONTINUOUS FILAMENTS, GUIDE MEANS CONVERGING THE FILAMENTS INTO A LINEAR BUNDLE, A DEFLECTOR SURFACE, SAID ROTATABLE MEANS BEING DISPOSED TO IMPINGE THE LINEAR BUNDLE ONTO THE DEFLECTOR SURFACE TO DISPERSE THE FILAMENTS, FEEDING MEANS ARRANGED TO CONTINUOUSLY DELIVER FIBROUS MATERIALS INTO THE REGION OF AND IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE DISPERSED FILAMENTS, AND A COMPACTOR ARRANGED TO RECEIVE AND BLEND TOGETHER THE INTERENGAGED DISPERSED FILAMENTS AND FIBROUS MATERIAL INTO A LINEAR YARN-LIKE BUNDLE. 